Feed valve for acetylene generators



Feb. 25, 1930.

i H. a. IRWIN FEED VALVE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS Filed Aug. 25, 1927 Patented Feb. 25, 1930- res muse sr Mi ht? HERBERT G. IRWIN, OEAMARILLO, TEXAS FEED VALVE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

Application .filed August 25, 1927. Serial No.215, 282.

7 10 vide an underneath. opening teed valve that will permit removal of a separable hopper bottom without removing the feed valve which, is connected with a control mechanism above the carbide outlet and hopper bottom 7 through the medium of a-stem.

A further object of my invention is to provide convenience in taking down for cleaning or otherwiseand assembling a generator I having a separable carbide hopper wlth an 1nterposed separable bottom and a carbide feed valve adapted to open below a carbide outlet in the hopper bottom and actuated by an automatic control directly above the carbide outlet. I e

A further object of the invention is to provide convenience in removing a feed valve that opens below a carbide outlet in an interposed separable hopper bottom and actuated by an automatic control mounted above said outlet I without removing the hopperbottom.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and construction of the various parts of my improved valve, as described in the specifications claimed in the claim, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in wh1ch:

Figure 1 is a view of the upper portion of an acetylene generatorwith walls cut away 40 showing my improved feed valve connected withan automatic control, the valve being in closed position.

Figure 2 -is an enlarged sectional view through a feed valve constructed in accor- 15 dance with my invention. 7 I

Figure 3 is a view of the under side of the valve shown in Fig. 2.

A Figure 4 isa sectional view through an alternate form in which my invention may be accomplished.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the upper portion of the water chamber of an acetylene generator is indicated by numeral 1, the removable carbide hopper 2, an interposed separable hopper bottom 3, and for an instance, one type of automatic teed control 4:, mounted in the carbide hopper.

The carbide feed valve 5, is an inverted conev and as for an instance in Fig. 1, is suspended from the under side of the control diaphragm LA, by a stem 6. The sides of the valve taper from a cylindrical base 513, which fits with slight lateral play in the carbide outlet opening 7, in the small end of the conical hopper bottom. The opening 7 is closed against the passage of carbide when the valve is drawn into it as shown. A downward movement oft-he control diaphragm lowers the valve out of the outlet in feeding carbide automatically. In other words, this feed valve is merely drawn into thecarbide outlet to close the latter instead of its tapering sides seating against the lower edge of the carbide outlet as is common with feed valves adapted to open downward from the outlet to feed carbide. The valve may be moved up and down on the stem by means of screwthreads 5C and 6G, to bring the cylindrical base 513 in proper adjustment withithe outlet 7 in setting the valve in closed position. The valve may be locked on the ,stemby'means of a cotter 6D, as shown in Fig. 2, or solder may be fused in the screwthreads of both valve and stem and adjustment made while hot. It is preferred to make the valve hollow on the under side to reduce material and weight. When this valve is used with a control diaphragm without a stop or definite normal position which will limit upward movement of the feed valve with the base 513 in the outlet, a stop (not shown) to limit upward movement of the valve may be provided in the form of a lug formed on the valve stem some distance above the valve that will abut the under side of a shoulder formed in the valve stem guide, when the base 513 slides into the outlet.

It will be seen that such a feed valve, while suspended by a stem from above the carbide outlet and adapted to open below the outlet,

will permit the removal of the carbide hopper or control mechanism with the valve without removing the valve from the stem, or. removing the hopper bottom from the water chamber with the hopper, by reason of the valve sliding upward through the carbide outlet with the control when the hopper head 8, or the hopper is removed. In a portable generator having an interposed separable hopper bottom and a removable hopper with a control carried thereby, or without a separable hopper bottom but with removable, hopper head carrying the feed control, and the hopper bottom carrying a splash shield onits.

under side connected with shield openingand closing means below the bottom, such a valve adds to convenience in assembling the generator at the factory and also adds to convenience in taking the generator down in the field for cleaning or repair. The valve may be used on both stationary and portable generators, when it is desired to mount the feed control above the carbide outlet and use a feed valve that opens below the carbide outlet.

/Vhile I have shown and described a carbide feed valve constructed in accordance with my invention, it will be manifest to persons skilled in the art that changes may be made in minor details of structure in adapting the device to use in various generators, and slight changes in the mode of operation of same within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the details described and shown.

What I claim is I V A suspended carbide feed valve comprising a cylindrical base with an upper conical pilot having internal screw-threads that engage external screw-threads on the lower end portion of a depending stem whereby the valve may be moved up or down on the stem to facilitate adjustment of the Valve for closed position and means for locking the valve on the stem.

HERBERT Gr; IRWIN. 

